Lamingtons, single mums seek party status

A new political party named after the coconut-covered lamington cake is trying to gather enough members to be registered before the federal election.

The Lamington Party is 150 members short of receiving Australian Electoral Commission registration.

Party founder Jason McKenzie, who ran as an independent candidate in the by-election for former Queensland Labor leader Anna Bligh's south Brisbane seat in 2012, set it up after becoming frustrated with the major parties.

The centre-left party will campaign for "sustainable development" and wants big bucks spent on an Australian Silicon Valley hub for technology start ups and manufacturing.

"We're looking at creativity and technology as a way to make society stronger," he told AAP on Monday.

Other policies include ending mandatory detention of asylum seekers and building a fast train network between Brisbane and Melbourne.

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The name was chosen because it was "quirky", Mr McKenzie said, and symbolic of taking something simple and turning it into something awesome.

Meanwhile, Adelaide single mother Kathy Lee, who says she was left $210 a week worse off after federal government welfare changes were introduced in January, is trying to set up the Single Parents Party.

She said the party would campaign for single parents affected by the changes.

It's seeking members and wants to run candidates in the Senate at the next federal election on September 14.

Ms Lee, who has a 15-year-old vision impaired son living at home, was moved from the Parenting Payments to the Newstart Allowance.